1. Don't wait for questions to start a dialogue with your parents.
? If your first conversation with parents is to discuss your worries about your children's mental health, the challenges and obstacles you face may be very great. On the contrary, you can try to contact the parents of these students at the beginning of the semester to find out how the students behave in the family and let them know that you will want to cooperate with them to help their children succeed. In this way, when students are worried about health problems, you will be glad that you have done this.
2. Don't act alone
When you notice that one of your students may have a potential mental health disorder, you'd better contact your school's psychological counselor or professional. They have received professional training and know how to help these students and parents in school (such as the process of student problem screening, consultation and crisis intervention). In addition, you can also contact experienced class teachers who have rich practical experience. In this way, you can choose the best way to share your worries about your children's psychological problems with your parents, and confirm the available resources and what you can do next.
Don't prepare for the worst.
? When you and your parents are worried about their children's mental health, don't think that you and your parents are antagonistic. Most parents will thank their teachers for sharing information based on facts, and an objective and accurate description is very important. For example, if he has xx behavior, it will have xx influence on him and xx influence on his classmates. Moreover, some parents may have such worries before the teacher raises them, but they are afraid to discuss them with their parents. Teachers take the initiative to mention children's psychological problems, which can make parents' worries become a problem that can be discussed and solved.
Second, choose the appropriate contact information.
? Every family is unique. Here are some suggestions for using different contact methods:
1. When using WeChat or other text contact methods:
1) Accept information in a language that parents are familiar with and can understand. If some parents can't read (such as grandparents), consider sending voice messages.
2) The information should be as concise as possible. Too long information will hinder reading.
2. When using the telephone to contact:
1) There are more positive calls than negative calls. Even if the purpose of your call is to share your concerns, you should make a positive statement to your child. Reiterate the first of the three "don't's" and try to avoid contacting parents for the first time only when the child has problems.
2) Invite parents to share their concerns.
3) Get their consent before sharing, so that they have time to respond to what you say and discuss and decide on a solution.
4) Try to use active listening strategies, such as repeating information you think is important in parents' responses to your words, to ensure that the information you hear is accurate.
Third, pay attention to parent-teacher conferences or face-to-face conversations:
1) Like making a phone call, we should balance the proportion of positive and negative information.
2) List more positive aspects of the child, not problems, and explore more resources for the child's growth.
3) If possible, leave enough time to talk with parents or arrange time for follow-up talks.
Fourth, constructive conversation.
Of course, constructive dialogue is not simple. Here are some suggestions that may help you communicate with your parents:
1. Express sympathy
? After parents are willing to listen to you describe the problems you have observed, invite parents to share their children's behaviors observed at home and what measures they have taken in the past to solve the problems they have observed. Use open-ended questions (that is, different from closed questions-yes, yes) and feedback listening (retelling what they said in your own words) to express that you can understand your parents' difficulties and concerns.
2. Help parents see the gap between their children's actual situation and their future ideal situation. You may need to help them understand the difference between maintaining the status quo and making changes.
Avoid a quarrel
? You didn't prove a point or prove that what you said was right. It is to help parents/guardians understand your concerns and see the positive and negative aspects of the problem change (such as the results of change and the results of unchanged).
4. Acknowledge the positive attempts made by parents and students so far. Your optimism can reduce the discomfort that parents may feel.
Show respect
As an empathetic and knowledgeable teacher, we should also respect the family's choice and parents' own judgment and ability.
6. Understand and respect cultural differences
For families with different cultural backgrounds (such as ethnic minorities), respect personal space distance and eye contact habits under different cultures.
7. Accept resistance, not pander to parents because of resistance.
Verb (abbreviation of verb) is a complete communication process (for reference only)
1) Shake hands with parents to welcome them.
2) Sit face to face
3) Do a good job in the time range of discussion and pave the way before discussing the problem.
4) Communicate gently, calmly and confidently.
5) Emphasize the positive and refer to the negative euphemistically. Affirm, emphasize and praise the positive aspects of students and parents.
6) Welcome to make criticisms and comments on the construction under discussion.
7) Remember that you and your parents are allies.
8) Pay attention to the problem itself, not personal attacks or random labeling.
9) Share objective records (such as grades and attendance). If you have objective data and records about the problems you mentioned, share them with your parents.
10) discuss the solution to the problem, instead of staying at the problem itself, put forward your suggestions and discuss with your parents.
1 1) Provide solutions to problems, available resources, and more information that you think important parents need in science.